Water heater



Dec-Q 23, 1924.

M. l.. RlsHElLL ET AL. WATER HEATER-- Finled April 22, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Ami K @a am Dec, .23., 1924.

M. L. RISHEILL. ET ALV WATER HEATER Filed April 22. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 @uvam/CW.

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Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

.UNITED STATES lzaoal PATENT OFFICE,

MARCUS L. RISHEILL AND SAMUEL AMES, OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA; SAID RISHEILL ASSIGNOR T0 SAID AMES.

WATER HEATER.

Application il'ed- April 22, 1921'. Serial No. 463,602.

T0 all 'Lc/wm z'z may concern:

lle it known that we, MARCUS L. RJSHEILL and SAMUEL Amas, citizens of the United States, residing at Alexandria, in the county ot Alexandria and State ot `Virginia, have invented certain` new and use-ful Improvements in Tater Heaters, of which thev following is a specification.

This invention relates to water heaters designed especially for domestic and analogous uses and has as one oil its objects to provide a heater which will be adapted todeliver a maximum volume of hot water within ay minimum period of time of opera.- tion.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the heater as to provide for utilizationr of the maximum number of heat units and thereby render the use of the heater economical, means being provided for causing the hot products of combustion to take a tortuous passage through the heater before being discharged to the outlet flue.

Another object of the invention isto so construct the heater as to prese-nt a maximum heating surface to the hot products of combustion andl thus obtain the advantages above pointed out.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement ot burner within a heater of the type mentionedy and novel and effective means w iereby air may be suppliedv to the burner in sufficient volume to insure of perfect'combustion ot the fuel and without subjecting any of the heating surfaces to the cooling influence. of the admitted air.

A further object of the vinvention is 'to provide novel coil construction for a water heater of the type mentioned.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical diagrammatic sectional view through a water heater constructed in accordance withy the present invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar view on the line 3 3 oiE Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a similar view on the line 4 4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal sectional view through one of the air valves;

Figure 6 is a. detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Figure l. i

The heater comprises an enclosing shell which: is indicated in general by the numeral 1 and which is closed at its lower end by a bottom 2 and at its upper'end by a dome 3, the latter being provided centrally with an out-let thimble 4 to which may be connected a flue 5 for conducting off the spent products of combustion. An opening 6 maybe provided at one side of the shell near thev bottom. thereoi1 to permit of'ac-cess to 'the burner, and a door 7 may be hingedly mounted" as at 8 upon the shellin position to normally close this opening.

The heater further comprises,l upper andl lower water heads indicated respectively by the numerals 9 and v10 and concentric inner andy outer water chambersrespectively indicated by thel numerals v11 and12. The water heads 9 and l0 are of flat cylindrical form and relative-ly shallow, and the head 9 is arranged within the upper end of the shell 1 and is of a diameter to iilll this end of the shell, being pro-vided cent-rally however with an opening 13 to receive the 'upper end Oia Hue pipel 14 which is arranged' to discharge? through the thimble4 into. the flue 5. f The water head 9 is locatedimmediately below but slightly spaced from thel dome 3' of the' shell 1, and an outlet nipple 15' leads from the top of the Water head through the said dome and is adapted forthe connection of a pipe (not shown) to` carryoii the hot water to the point or points where it is required for use. f

The lower water head is of substantially the. same diameter andv depth as the upper water head 9 but does not completely fill the lower .end of the shell linasmuch as the shell at this point is increased in diameter, as

indicated by the numeral 1G. Consequently the walls of the shell and water head are spaced atthispoint to provide an annular passa-ge 17 for the products oi combustion. The bottom 18- of the head 10` is supported in spaced relation to the bottom 2 oil" the shell 1 as :torl example by means of lugs 19 upon the saidy bottom 18, so that an air passage 2O is provided between the bottoms 2 and 18 and comn'nmicating with the passage. 17. The water head 10 isf formed centrally with an opening 21 receiving the lower end ot the flue 14, the flue therefore extending practiwater head 9.

cally from the lower to the upper end of the shell 1 and centrally thereof. A water supply pipe 22 is led thro-ugh the bottom 2 of the shell 1 and into the bottom 18 of the water head 1() from any suitable source of supply and serves to supply cold water to the heater.

As stated the water chambers 11 and 12 are concentrically arranged, and this is true not only with regard to their relation to each other but also to the shell 1 and the central flue 14, the water chamber 11 being either constructed integrally with the flue 14 and surrounding the same or being formed separate therefrom and disposed to surround the Hue. Preferably however the structure is an integral one so that the wall of the flue serves as the inner wall of the said chamber. The said chamber 11 extends from a point suitably spaced above the water head 1() to a point suitably spaced below the water head 9 and communication is established between the water head 9 and chamber 11 preferably by a union such as illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings and indicated in general by the numeral 23. This union comprises a nipple 24 which is threaded into the bottom of the water head 9, the said bottom of the. water head being preferably reinforced as at 25 at the'pont of entrance of the nipple, and a nipple 26 which is threaded in a like manner into the upper end of the water chamber 11 which chamber is likewise reinforced, as at 27. The nipple 24 is provided exteriorly above its lower end with a circumscribing shoulder 28, and a coupling sleeve 29 is rotatably iitted onto the said nipple and is provided at its upper end .interiorly with a flange 30 designed to bind against the said shoulder 28. The nipple 26 at its upper end is exteriorly threaded as indicated by the numeral 31, and the coupling sleeve 29 is interiorly threaded at its lower portion, as at 32, so as to have engagement with the nipple 2G. Thus when the sleeve 29 is adjusted and tightened, the adjacent ends of the nipples will be drawn together, and inasmuch as they are provided with a ground joint 33, a water-tight union will be effected. The couplings 23 are arranged in an annular series about the portion of the flue 14 which extends between the upper end of the chamber 11 and the bottoinof the The water chamber 11 is placed in communication at its lower end with the water head 10 by means of pipes 34 threaded at their upper ends into the lower vend of the said chamber 11 and at their lower ends into the top of the said head 10' and extending in an annular series about a portion of the flue 14 which extends between the lower end of the water chamber I 11 and the top of thewater head 10.

nected therewith by an integral connecting wall portion 35 in which and the lower portion of the said chamber 12 the opening G, heretofore referred to, is formed. In order to establish communication between the bottom of the water chamber 12 and the head 10, pipes 36 are placed in communication at their upper and lower ends respectively with these parts and are arranged in a semiannular series, as shown in Figure 3. The upper end of the water chamber 12 is placed in communication with the bottom of the water head 9 by couplings 37 identical in construction with the couplings 23 previously described. The said water chamber 12 has a maximum diameter somewhat less than the interior diameter of the shell 1 so that a surrounding air space 38 is provided between the wall of the shell and the outer wall of the said chamber, and the chambers 11 and 12 being spaced and concentii'ically arranged an intervening air space 39 is provided between them within which space the heating coils are arranged in a manner which will now beI described. At this point it may be stated further that the connecting wall portion 35 which extends between the lower end of the water chamber 12 and the top of the water head 10 serves to close communication between thel space 38 and the space 39 at the bottom of the heater but these spaces are in communication with each other at the top of the heater by way of a space 40 which is provided between the bottom of the water head 9 and the upper end of the water chamber 12.

Any desired number of heating coils as above referred to may be employed and the said coils are preferably arranged in an annular series as best illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings and are indicated in general by the numeral 41. The coils are of a double type and each comprises an outer series of convolutions 42 and an inner series of convolutions 43 arranged concentric thereto, the convolutions 42 and 43 merging at their upper ends and being connected by branches 44; by the union of which an outlet nipple 45 is provided. rl"his outlet nipple of each coil set is connected by any suitable union 4G with the bottom of the water head 9 and placed in communicationy therewith. The coils 42 and 43 are in a like manner connected at their lower ends as at 47 and unite with a water leg 48 which is placed in communication by a suitable coupling 49 with the top of the water head 10, the water legs 48 being arranged in an annular series extending about and relativelv close to the portion of the flue 14 which extends between the said water head 10 and the lower end of the water chamber 11.

The burner of the heater is indicated in general by the numeral 50 and the saine comprises a relatively flat hollow annular body provided in its `top with jet openings 52 flier the discharge of the =tuel mixture. The burner vbody is arranged within the space between the lower cud o't the water chamber 1l and the upper side of the water head l0 and surrounds the adjacent portion ot the llue 14, :the water legs ALS, and the pipes Fuel is supplied tothe burner 5() by a pipe 53 which has branchest ,leading in upwardly diverging directions and Athence `vertically and rcommunicating at their upper ends with the bottom of the burner body 5l. A mixing valve 55 of the usual .type yis provided Vat the. lower or .intake end .et :the pipe so as to provide 'lor admission of a Iregulated volume of air to .mingle with the fluel supplied to the said `'ripe and thus :provide tor the propagation of a sootless flame at the burner jets V52. An additional volume .of air is required however and this air is preferably supplied through dra'l't `pipes 56 which extend through the bottom A2 of the shell l and upwardly through the water head l0, the pipes ,5G surrounding the vertical portions ot the .branches '54- ot the pipe and bcing provided vat their lowerends and below the bot-tom 2 Vot' the shell with regulating air inlet valves 57 of a well-known type.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be .understood that the productsof combustion will rise trom the vicinity ot 'the 'burner 50 through the space 39, circulating about :the .coils 41, will enter the space 40, sweeping over Athe bottom ot the 4water head 9, will pass downwardly through the space 38, sweeping over the outer wall ofthe water chamber 12, will passidownwardly :through the space 17 and about the sides of the .water head l0, and will then pass vthrough the space 20, sweeping over 'the bottom of the said water head l0, and up through the flue lt in contact with the inner wall of the water chamber l1. The products of combustion, in passing up through the space 39, willof course sweep over lthe outer wall of the water chamber ll and the inner .wall of the water chamber '12. It will now be evident that the products of combustion are caused, in the operation of the zheater, to take a tortuous path through the apparatus so that full -benefit is derived from ythe `heat units.

Having thus described the invention, what isclaimed as new is:

l. In a water heater, a shell, spaced upper and lower water yheads within the shell, a water inlet communicating with the lower head, a water outlet leading from the upper head, va heating coil establishing communication between the heads, the shell having an outlet flue at its top, a second flue within the shell extending through and clcsedto the-space between the water heads and having yits upper discharge end -opening through the upper head beneath the first-mentioned flue and its lower inlet end opening through the lower head and into the shell, ,and a burner located within the shell over 4the lower water head and belowk the coil, there being a tortuous passage within theishell for the products of combustion trom the burner to the inlet end olf the second-mentioned flue.

2. In a. water heater', a shell, spaced upper and lower water lheads within the shell, a water inlet communicating with the lower head, a water outlet leading from vthe upper head, a heating coil establishing communication between `the heads, the shell having an outlet yflue `at its ltop, a second l'lue within the shellextending through and closed to the space between the heads and having its upper discharge end opening' through the upper head ,beneath lthe firstmentioned flue and its lower intake end opening through the lower head and into the shell, `the upper head abutting lthe wall olf thel shell to Yclose the upper 4portion oi the'shell below the first-mentioned itlue, the lower head being spaced from the walls et the shell and from .the bottom ythereof and surroundingthe lowerlend ot' the lastmentioned flue, and a burner located within the shell below the coil and over the lower head, the space. between the flower head and the vbottom of the shellbeing open Ato admit to the last-mentioned :flue products of combustion passing the .lower head.

3. In a water heater, a shell having a closed top provided with a flue opening, a. tlue extending vertically within the shell and having its upper end arranged to discharge into the said flue opening and its lower end adjacent.` and spaced froml the bottom et the shell, a water head surrounding thel vupper end .of the flue and closing the spfacerbetween the. same and the wall et the shell, a water outlet `leading from the said water hea-d, a lower water head within the shell and spaced from the wall and bottom `olf .the same and surrounding 'the lower end of the flue, a water inlet communicating with the lower water head, a heat-ing eoil establishing communication between the water heads, anburner within the. shell under the said coil and over the lower water head, theue at its lower inlet end communicating with the space between the lower water head and the bottom off the shell, and a water chamber surrounding the coil and spaced from the upper water head and the shell and in communication. with the lower waterhead.

l. 'In a water' heater, a shell having a closed top provided with a. line opening, a vertically disposed flue within the shellY arranged to discharge at its upper endinto the flue openine` a water head surrounding the upper end of the Hue, a water outlet leading from the said head, a water head surrounding the lower end of the flue, the up per water head closing the space between the upper end ot the liue and the wall ot the shell and thel lower water head being spaced 'from the wall and bottom ot the shell, a water chamber within. the shell in communication with the upper and lower water heads and spaced from the upper water head and from the wall of the shell and the said line whereby to provide a passage for the products of combustion extending upwardly between the water chamber and the flue and downwardly between thewater chamber and the shell and across the bottom of the shell to the lower end of the flue, a heating coil within the space between the flue and the water chamber and communicating with the upper and lower water heads, and a burner within the shell below' the coil.

5. In a water heater, a shell having a closed top provided with a flue ope-ning, a vertically disposed fluei within the shell arranged to discharge at its upper end into the flue opening, a water head surrounding the upper end of the flue, a water outlet leading from the said head, a water head surrounding the llower end of the flue, the upper water head closing the space between the upper end of the flue and the wall of the shell and the lower `water head being spaced from the wall and bottom of the shell, a water chamber within the shell in communication with the upper and lower water heads and spaced from the up-per water head. and from the wall of the shell and the said flue whereby to provide a passage tor the products of combustion extending upwardly between the water chamber and the flue and downwardly between the water chamber and the shell and across the bottom of the shell to the lower' end of the flue, a heating coilwithin the space between the flue and the water chamber and communicating with the upper and lower water heads, and a burner within the shell below the coil, the burner surrounding the said `flue above the lower water heiad.

G. ln a water heater, a shell having a closed top provided with a flue opening` avertically disposed. flue within the shell arranged to discharge at its upper end into the -flue opening, a waterhead surrounding the upper end of the flue, a water outlet leading from the said head, a water head surrounding the lower end of the flue, the upper water head closing the space between the upper end of the lue and the wall of the shell and the lower water head being spaced from. the wall and bottomv of the shell, a water chamber within the shell in communication with the upper and lower water heads and splaced from the upper water head and. trom the wall of the shell and the said flue whereby to provide a passage ttor the products ot combustion extending upwardly between the water chamber and the Hue and downwardly between the water chamber and the shell and across the bot-tom of the shell to the lower end ot the liuc, a. heating coil within the space between the flue and the water chamber and communicating with the upper and lower wat-er heads, a burner within the shell below the coil, and a second water chamber surrounding the flue and communicating with the. upper and lower water heads.

7. In a water heater, a shell hiaving a closed top provided with a flue opening, a flue disposed vertically within the shell and arranged to discharge at its upper end into the flue opening, a water head surrounding the upper end of the flue and closing the space between the same and the wall ont the shell, a water outlet leading from the said head, a water head surrounding the lower end of the flue and spaced trom the wall and bottom of the shell, a water inlet coinmunicating with. the said lower head, a water chamber within the shell surrounding the flue and spaced therefrom and from the wall of the shell and likewise :trom the upper water head, and in communication with the upperand lower heads, means closing the space between the lower end of the chamber and the lower water head whereby products of combustion passing upwardly through the space between the flue and the said chamber will be caused to pass downwardly between the chamber and the wall ot the shell and about and beneath the lower water head previous to entering the intake end of the flue, and a burner within the shell above the lower water head.

8. In a water heater, a shell having a closed top provided with a flue opening, a llue disposed vertically within the shell and arranged to discharge at its Lipper end into the flue opening, a water head surrounding the upper end of the flue and closing the space between the same and the wall of the shell, a water outlet leading from the said head, a water head surrounding the lower end of the flue and spaced from the wall and bottom of the shell, a water inlet communicating with the said lower head, a water chamber within the shell rsurrounding the Aflue and spaced therefrom and from the wall of the shell and likewise from the upper water head and in communication with the upper and lower heads, means closing the space between the lower end ot' the chamber and the lower water head whereby products of combustion passing upwardly through the space between the flue and the said chamber will be caused to pass downwardly between the chamber and the wall of the shell and about and beneath the lower water head previous to entering the .intake end ot' the flue, a heating coil establishing communication between the water heads and located within the space between the flue and the` water chamber, and a burner located within the shell below the coil.

9. In a water heater, a shell having a closed top provided with a line opening, a flue disposed vertically within the shell and arranged to discharge at its upper end into the flue opening, a water head surrounding the upper end of the flue and closing the space between the same and the wall et' the shell, a water outlet leading from the said head, a water head surrounding the lower end of the flue and spaced from the wall and betteln et the shell, a water inlet communicating with the said lower head, a water chamber within the shell surrounding the flue, and spaced therefrom and from the wall of the shell and likewise from the upper water head and in communication with the upper and lower heads, means closing the space between the lower end of the chamber and the lower water head whereby products of combustion passing upwardly through the space between the i'lue and the said chamber will be caused te pass downwardly between the chamber and the wall of the shell and about and beneath the lower head previous to entering the intake end ot the flue, a heating coil establishing` communication between the water heads and located within the space between the flue and the water chamber, a burner located within the shell below the coil, and a water chamber surrounding the flue and having a wall in commen therewith, the last-inentiened water chamber being in communication with the said upper and lower water heads.

l0. In a water heater, a shell having a closed 'top provided with a llue opening, a flue disposed vertically within the shell with its upper end in position to discharge into the said liuc opening' and its lower end spaced above the bottom of the shell, a water head surrounding the upper end et the flue and closing the space between the saine and the wall oit the shell, a water outlet leading from 'the said head, a lower water head surrounding the lower end of the l'lue and spaced from the wall and bottom et the shell, a water inlet communicating with the lower water head, a water chamber surrounding the flue and spaced therefrom and from the wall et the shell and at its upper end spaced from the upper water head, means closing the space between the lower end of the chamber' and lower water head, a series of heating coils arranged within the space between the said flue and the water chamber' and communicating with the upper and lower water heads, and a burner within the shell above the lower water head Iand between the said flue and the said water chamber.

ll. In a water heater, a shell having a closed top provided with a i'lue opening, a flue disposed vertically within the shell with its upp'er end in position to discharge into the said flue opening and its lower end spaced above the bottom of the shell, a water head surrounding the upper end of the flue and closing the space between the saine and the wall ot' the shell, a water outlet leading from the said head, a lower water head surrounding the lower end oiI the flue and spaced from the wall and bottom of the shell, a water inlet communicating with the lower water head, a water chamber surrounding the flue and spaced theretrom and from the wall oi" the shell and at its upper end spaced from the. upper water head, means closing the space between the lower end of the chamber and lower water head, a series of heating coils arranged within the space between the said flue and the water chamber and communicating with the upper and lower water heads, a burner within the shell above the lower water head and between the said iuel and the said water chamber, the water chamber surrounding the said ilue and having a wall in common therewith, the last mentioned water chamber being in communication with the upper and lower water heads. f"

ln testimony whereof we alli); our signatures.

Maisons L. Risi-imm. SAMUEL iii/ins. 

